AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Daniel was almost killed today in an assassination attempt. I need to see you. Now.”
“Where is he?” she asked, although her tone was more demanding.
“At the ranch. I’m not. I got away.”
“Merda,” she cursed. “Fine. I’m headed to the airport. It’s time we leave. If you hurry, we can talk for a few minutes.”
With that, she ended the call.
Somehow, I knew once I’d spoken with her, I’d be on my own. There was no going back from making a deal with the devil.
My name is Maria Rossi. I’m twenty-five years old, my heritage from Sicily, Italy. I was educated in Paris. I have a love for fast cars and fine wines, designer clothes, shoes, and purses from only the finest artists, Neopolitan pizza and anything Italian. I prefer my men rich and older, and diamonds really are a girl’s best friends.
Every word of the mostly lies I continued to try to force myself to recite grated on my nerves even more. They were a mantra said by the real Maria, the wild child girl likely laughing somewhere every time the words entered my mind. The only truth to it was that she and I were only a couple of months apart. Other than that…
My name is Margot Rollins. I’m almost twenty-five years old, my heritage is from New York via Philadelphia via Kansas City. I was educated in whatever public school system I was forced to go to, and there were several, and an associate degree from a community college. I have a love for old muscle cars, beer and cheap wine, jeans and baggy sweaters, thrift store tennis shoes and purses, burgers, and hot dogs. I prefer my men with more intelligence than the Neanderthal assholes I was stupid enough to go out with.
The truth was actually more comforting than I would have believed. What was wrong with wearing cheap clothes and enjoying the small things in life like walking through a park or watching a scary movie with a huge bowl of popcorn? Maybe if I truly wanted to be indulgent, I would go to a carnival, playing a few games until I won a stuffed animal. I was a pretty good shot, which usually meant I could win those kinds of games. I had three fluffy white bears to prove it.
The airport as usual was busy, parking nutty. Thankfully, I had enough pocket change donated from the real Maria to cover the fee. I rushed into the main terminal, looking over my shoulder constantly. She’d texted me where she remained with her mother and father, the international flight supposedly on time. That meant I had maybe fifteen minutes with her before she’d need to board the plane.
I hadn’t seen her since the wedding festivities had gotten into full swing. I’d remained in the hotel suite formerly occupied by the real girl while she’d remained inside the estate where I’d spent so much time with her. My job had been to text her when the deed was done, wiping out the message one hour after doing so.
I’d followed her instructions, Leonardo remaining by my side until he’d taken me to the ceremony. Then his duties had ended as well. As I raced up the elevator, running and pushing past several people eager to go on whatever fabulous trip they were headed to, my heart continued thudding in my chest.
I wasn’t certain what the point of seeing her was, but I’d felt compelled to do so. Maybe to speak my mind or to gather more information so I could accept what was happening to me. I really didn’t know. What I did know was that the ruse could implode easily, more so than I’d realized. People slipped up when they weren’t completely in their role, and the passion I’d shared with Daniel had been so unexpected I’d almost told him private things that Maria would never do.
Or that she’d done and I hadn’t.
Like anal sex.
She was supposedly a powerful woman who’d taken many lovers. Meanwhile, I’d had two, both of which hadn’t been good in the foreplay department, one only licking me as if he was being forced to drink a vat full of cough syrup. I’d felt like some virgin minus whatever blood I might have spilled. Was there really such a thing? I hadn’t experienced it. Or maybe I had and that’s when the jerk had pulled out, shoved his dick back into his pants, and left me in the room.
I hadn’t even been fully undressed, the spiffy little wraparound number I’d borrowed from my mother’s wardrobe allowing for easy access. As soon as I stood on the landing, I checked the overhead flight boards, now only steps away.
After pushing my way past another hundred or so people, most of which cursed at me, I finally noticed her sitting close to her parents near a window. Her perch allowed her to gaze at the planes coming and going. She was wearing a coat, yet there was no disguising her long raven hair styled just like mine. Or vice versa. I was halfway surprised she wasn’t wearing a scarf or hat, but I doubted she believed anyone would think the wiser now.
Leonardo acknowledged my presence while her parents ignored that their daughter had even been approached. As soon as I’d walked toward them, her bodyguard moved from the other side of the set of seats, standing in front of us as if he could keep any prying eyes from paying any attention.
I slipped into the seat beside her, my heart still racing.
When she turned her head, I realized she was much sicker than before, her once vibrant skin gray and her lips a dull shade of rose. Sadly, it was her eyes that seemed most haunted, as if the poor girl had accepted she was headed home to die, not to heal.
I couldn’t hold back the odd emotion, a tear forming in my eyes. No one deserved to die so young.
Neither one of us blinked for a few seconds. When she finally did, her smile was warming yet strained. “Don’t be sad, Margot. There’s still hope. I’m going to a special clinic not unlike where your mother is. I understand she’s doing very well. I wanted you to know I checked on her condition this morning. I knew you couldn’t be in contact with her.”
While my mom was a small portion of what I was doing, she had no idea for how long or how important my role of a lifetime could be. I’d purposely kept it from her, fearful her condition would worsen. And it was part of the damning deal I’d made.
“Thank you for that. I hope they can cure you.”
“What was so urgent you needed to see me? This is very dangerous.”
“I know,” I told her. “He was almost killed. He came back with blood covering him, one of his men killed. You didn’t tell me how dangerous his life was.”
“Now, your life. While it’s unusual to be targeted in the way he was, it does happen. It’s something you get used to.”
I laughed. “How in God’s name do you ever get used to looking over your shoulder everywhere you go or being forced to have a bodyguard with you at all times? That’s insane. That’s not the way to live.” As soon as I said the words, I exhaled and looked away. I’d sensed she would give anything to live the life she’d given me.
